Machine for forming storage-battery plates.



F. ENGEL.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY PLATES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14.1907.

' 1,1 90,988. Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F.ENGEL.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY PLATES. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 14.1907.

1,1 90,988. Patented July 11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK ENGEL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO U.LIGHT & HEATCOBPORATION, F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE-BATTERY PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed November 14, 1907. Serial No. 402,164;

age batteries. Such plates are frequently formed by casting underpressure, but this process is objectionable for several reasons. First,it involves an excessive amount of care and labor; second,notwithstanding the exercise vof greatfcare, imperfect castings arefrequently produced. Furthermore, cast lead itself is not well adaptedto endure long use, for the reason that it lacks the requisitecompactness and density. Lead battery plates are also sometimes producedby aspinning process in which {the blanks are subjected to circularknives rotated at c0n-.

siderable speed, the peripheries of the knives being driven through orcaused to cut the surface of the plate, but this spinning process alsohas notable disadvantages, one'of which is due to the fact that theknives put the metal under tension, thus tending to pull the moleculesapart and decrease the density 7 of the plates. The result is that theprod not is more susceptible to the'ac tion of the acid, which producesirregular growth and buckling. Furthermore, the knives soon become wornand produce a ragged out which affords further access to the acid. 1Moreover, the knives are necessarily so large in diameter that they givesloping sides to the metal at the beginning and end of a cut. Theadvantage of the configuration-shown herein is that the plate hasgreater contact surface in proportion to. its weight and thereforehasits capacity increased inproportion. v

The best batteryplate is one having great and substantially uniformdensity, I free from irregularitiesof outline andthe pres ence offoreign matter and provided at regular intervals with accurately. formedcrossbars for strengthening the. fins or ribs. It is also essential thatthe fins should be of substantially uniform density out to their edgesand that the edges shouldbe ofuniform height and configuration.

The object of nay-invention is to produce an organized mechanism capableof producing plates having these desirable characteristics. p

The object also is to produce a machine 'in, which the acting partsare'subjected to a minimum wearing action so that they may accuratelymaintain their configuration during a long period-of use andconsequently always produce a uniform product. As contributing to thislatter characteristic, it is a purposeof the invention to distribute thestresses and strains during action as uniformly as possible throughoutthe cycle of operation and to produce a plate by suc-' cessive pressingactions gradually increasing in intens ty.-

The preferred program of operationf in general consists in subjectingthe blank to.

substantially a rolling pressure produced simultaneoush on oppositefaces, of the blank by a pair of cooperating dies or formers whichoscillateback and forth and are gradually forced closer andclosertogether to finally bring out the desired configuration anddensity of the plate. In the preferred form of machine, the blank,instead of derlving its reciprocating movement from the action of theformers, is operated posi-' tively by a reciprocating support or holder,operating in'timed relation with the formers and thus positivelycontrolling'the'movement of the plate and enhancing the accuracy withwhich the plate is formed. Crossbars of any desired configuration areproduced simultaneously with the production 'of the fins by means ofnotches in the blades constitutin'g'the acting surfaces of the formers.Asa result of this repeated rocking or pressing actionofthe formersupon: the b1ank,'the density of the lead is materially increased and maybe regulated to a nicety by varying the'shape of the formers and thedistance to which the cooperating su'rQ facesthereof approach each otherntheir nearest position. Moreover, by properly proportioning the formerplates and spreaders or separators, theqcores, fins and crossribs imaybe, subjected to the different degrees of pressure required. As a resultof the operation-"of the mechanism, the plates are dense at allparts andparticularly in the outer strata, are accurately formed and do not varyone from anotherto any -appre ciable extent by, reason of the wear ofthe acting parts. i

The invention will be more fully disclosed by referring to the followingdescription,

' taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which isillustrated, in a convenient and practical form, one of-the variouspossible embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the machinechosen for illustration of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;Fig. 3 is a. View in endelevation; Figs. 4c and 5 are detail views on alarger scale of a set of formers; Figs. 6 and 7 .are detail views of abattery plate produced by the improved machine.

In the machine shown in the drawings, there is mounted upon a suitableframe or h msing a, a crank-shaft b, driven in any suitable manner; thecrank 6 thereof be ing connected by a pitman b with acrosshead 0, whichis supported to slideto and fro upon ways a on the frame a. A sup portor holder d, having an opening d therein to receive snugly the blanklead plate 0, is mounted in suitable ways a in the frame and isconnected to the cross-head c by any suitable means, as by a pin f,-soas to be reciprocated therewith. The opening (1 in the plate-holder isadapted to accommodate a blank 3 3 inches in the machine illustrated,which blank is a tight fit in said opening and is held thereinfrictionally after being pressed in by hand. When it is desired to use alarge machine and a larger blank of considerable weight,

any suitable means may be employed to hold said blank in the opening andprevent it from falling'through. In the case of either a large blank ora small one, the effect of the opposed formers is .to tend to spread theblank as soon as the blades begin to embed themselves therein so thatthere is firm frictionalengagement between the edges of' the blank andthe walls of the opening in the holder. The holder (Z may be providedwith a hand-hold d by which it may be withdrawn from the machine whendisconnected from the cross-head.

In the machine shown inthe drawings, the lead blank 6 is subjectedsimultaneously on opposite sides to the pressing action of two sets offormers. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each set is made up preferably ofthin blades or ribs 9 with curved gradually tapering edges, which arenotched at intervals, as at-g, alternating with separators g shorterthan the blades, outside supporting plates 9 and bolts-g and g by'whichthe blades and separators are firmly bound together between the platesgalthough I do not limit myself to this construction. Each set of formersis pivotally mounted, as by means of-the extended bolt in a block it,movable toward and from the holder (Z in suitable ways in the frame a.Each block h is suitably connected so as to permit the necessaryrelative movement to an eccentric block 2' by means of bolts slid ing inelongated slots j in the block 2', which block is mounted on aneccentric 7c, formed ter plane of the plated, as at Z, with links m,which in turn are connected to the reciprocating cross-head c.

The operation of forming battery plates or units with the machinedescribed will now be readily understood. A blank 0 having been insertedin the opening of the holder 65 and the sets of formers having beendrawn apart, the holderis slipped into the ways a provided therefor inthe frame a, and is coupled to the reciprocating cross-head 0. Powerbeing then applied to the shaft Z), the holder (Z with the blank 0 isreciprocated and the sets of formers are oscillated in synchronismtherewith. At the same time, the formers are caused to approacheachother slowlyvso that the blades act upon the blank with a rocking motionand gradually displace the lead in a direction from the center core ofthe plate toward the axes of the formers.

The working edges of the blades have a long taper or bevel, as shown inFig. 5, as a result of' -;which construction the lead is graduallycompressed between adjacent beveled surfaces as it is forced up from theblank until it is reduced to such a thickness that it can pass upbetween the parallel sides of adjacent blades aS continuous new portionsof the blank are being wedged between said blades. The gradualcompression of the lead -'as the rib is forced up between the bevels ofadjacent blades, closely compacts and increases the density throughoutthe entire rib, which is very .thin, without disrupting or tearing themetal. If the blank is of. proper-thickness, the lead will be displacedas described until it comes in contact with the edges of the separators9 so that the fins or webs of the finished plate shall be of uniformheight above the center core and shall have their tops, as well astheir" sides, consisting of dense metal. Althoughthe blades areillustratedas having a substantially uniform or straight line taper attheir peripheries, .I do not limit myself to this precise form of taper,as it is obvious that a section of the end of a blade may have any oneof a number of outlines as long as the desired compression of the blankbetween adjacent blades is secured without disrupting the metal of theblank.

As will be apparent from Fig. 4:, the blades 9 have as a working edge arelatively short arc, and the notches g in said edges provide for theformation of the reinforcing cross-bars or cross-ribs e, which supportthe fins or webs e raised from the center core 0 of the plate 6, asshown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The parts of the formers and the eccentrics which cause them to approacheach other, are preferably so proportioned with reference to thethickness of the blank operated upon that the side plates g reach thesurface planes of the holder cl at substantially the same time that thedisplaced lead, forming the fins or webs of the plate, reaches the edgeof the separators so that the plate 6 is finished as to its frame 6practically simultaneously with the finishing as to the webs 6 theentire plate, and particularly the tops of said webs, being subjected towhatever final compression may be desired, as determined by the distancebetween said formers in their closest position to each other. It will beobserved that the center core 6 is not displaced toward one side or theother of the said plate, but retains always its true position, andfurthermore as the edges of the blades 9 are not dulled by rotation incontact with the lead plate, but act always with a rocking action,

the spaces between the webs or fins e terminate with an acute angle incross section so that the exposure of the center core to electrolyticaction is a minimum.

The effect of the small arc constituting the working edge of the former,described above, which are is long enough, however, to rock upon theblank from one end to the other, as seen in Fig. 1, as compared to acircular disk having a proportionately smaller radius to provide acircumferential working edge of a length equal to this same blank, is toreduce to a minimum the tendency of the blank to roll out or lengthenunduly and cause distortion. A further effeet, in view of the relativelength or radius of the former, as compared to the length of its workingarc and the infinitesimal advance'of the formers into the blank at eachreciprocation, is that the line of pressure of the formers against theblank is substantially normal to the surface of the blank and not at aconsiderable angle from the normal. as is the case where a roll. orcylindrical former of correspondingly small radius is used.

In order that the formers may be withdrawn rapidly after the completionof a plate, means may be provided for rotating the eccentricsindependently of the driving mechanism. Thus worm-gears k may be engagedwith the shafts 70 through ball or roller clutches indicated at if so asto drive the shafts positively but permit the shafts to be rotatedforwardly with respect to the worm-gears, while the opposite ends of theshafts is are provided with sprocketwheels a connected by chain 71/, andone of the shafts'lc is preferably provided with a crank M. The shaftsis, with their eccentrics 75, may thus be given a half rotationsimultaneously as soon as a plate is completed so as to withdraw theformers rapidly and permit a new blank to be substituted for thecompleted plate. 7

I do not'herein claim the battery plate or grid which this machineproduces, nor the process by which the plate or grid is produced, forthese form the subject-matter of a. separate application, Serial No.479,070, filed by me February 20, 1909.

It is obvious that various instrumentalities maybe combined to producethe result obtained by the machine selected for the purpose ofillustration, and therefore I do not limit myself to the structuraldetails described, but desire to include'broadly any suitable means foraccomplishing the ,desired result and included within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. A'machine'for refining the crystalline structure of leadblanks and increasing the superficial area thereof, including means forsupporting a lead blank, means operating on opposite sides of said blankto alternately apply pressure and release the same, said meanscomprising formers each having an arcuate outline to engage said leadblank, and having narrow parallel ribs with tapering edges spaced apartdistances substantially equal to the Width of the ribs,

the parallel'walls of adjacent ribs forming betweenthem pockets havingflaring openings formed by the tapering edges of the ribs and means forpositively gradually advancing said first means toward each other aninfinitesimal distance at each operation thereof,the ratio between theradius of said arcuate outline and the advance at each operation beingso great that the line of pressure on said plate is practically normalto said plate, wherebyothe lead of the blank may be'uniformly kneadedand refined by the repeated application of pressure, and whereby thelead of the blank displaced by said ribs may befor'med into ribs or finsby being gradually forcedinto said pockets, the flaring openings of saidpockets serving to densify and consolidate the ribs or fins as the leadis forced therethrough without disrupting or tearing the lead.

2. In a machine for making Plant battcry plates, the combination of areciprocable blank carrier and a pair of rocking formers, one on eachside of said blank, each former being provided with thin parallel bladesseparated by narrow spaces, the working edges of said blades having aslight curvature to permit said formers to be gradually pressed intosaid blank with a rocking motion, the radius of curvature of the workingedges being so great, and the distance the blades are pressed into theblank at each reciprocation being so small that the acute angle formedbetween the direction of pressure on the metal and the surface oftheblank is always greater than the angle of pressure which will causethe metal to be pressed forward in the direction of reciprocation of theblank, whereby the metal is gradually forced between the blades to formribs of density greater than the original density of the blanks.

3. In a machine for making Plant battery plates, the combination of areciprocable blank carrier, a pair of rocking formers, one on each sideof said blank, each former being provided with thin parallel bladesseparated by narrow spaces,the work ing edges of said blades beingtapered in the form of an acute angle and having a curvature of largeradius as compared to the length thereof, and means for graduallypressing said tapered blades into the blank, the radius of curvature ofthe working edges being so great relative to the distance the blades areadvanced at each reciprocation that the an gle formed between the radiusof the blades, coincident with the direction of pressure on the blankand the radius normal to the blank surface, is always less than theangle beyond which if pressure is applied to the blank the metal of theblank will be displaced in the direction ofv reciprocation of the blank,the coordination of the parts producing lateral displacement of themetal of the blank by said tapered edges and compressing and densi fyingthe metal between said blades as the sameare advanced into the blank.

4. In a machine of the character described for producing Plant' batteryplates from a lead blank, means for supporting the blank, a pair ofopposed formershaving working faces substantially equal in length to theblank,said.faces being curved on an arc of radius not less than thelength of said faces, andmeansfor simultaneously rocking said formers-incontact with the blank and ad vancing the formers toward said blankthrough small increments, whereby pressure may be applied to theopposite faces of the blank substantially at right angles thereto toprevent the metal from rolling out ahead of said curved faces whileconsolidating said metal and rendering its crystalline structure finerand more uniform.

5. In a machine of the character described for producing a battery plategrid from a lead blank, means for supporting the blank, a pair ofopposed formers having thin curved projecting ribs forming workingfaces, means for reciprocating said blank supporting means andoscillating said formers through ninety degrees or less to rock theWorking faces over the surface of the blank and eXert pressure atsubstantially right angles thereto, and means for advancing said formerstoward each other a small amount at each actuation thereof.

6. In a machine for making Plant battery plates, the combination of areciprocable blank carrier, a pair of rocking formers, one on each sideof said blank, and means for advancing said formers toward each other bysmall increments, each former being provided with thin parallel bladesseparated by narrow spacers providing spaces of substantially equaldepths, the Working edges of said blades being sharpened and slightlycurved away from said blank, these elements being so coordinated thatthe metal is kneaded in forming the ribs.

7. In a machine of the character described for making a battery plategrid from a lead blank, means for supporting the blank, rocking formersadjacent the opposite sides of said support provided with graduallycurving surfaces having a plurality of gradually tapered working edgeswith intervening spaces, and means for simultaneously rocking saidformers through an angle of less than ninety degrees and advancing thesame toward the blank by small increments where by the surfaces of saidblank may be alternately compressed by pressure exerted substantiallynormal to the surface of the blank and the pressure thereon relieved soas to knead the lead, therebyconsolidating and refining the same andgradually working the lead into the spaces between said working egdes toform symmetrical ribs of uniform texture and density without disruptingor tearing the lead.

8. In a machine of the character described for making Plante batteryplate grids from a lead blank, means for supporting the blank, opposedpivoted formers mounted for rocking engagement with opposite faces of ablank on said supporting means, each former comprising alternate thinsectorshaped blades and sector-shaped spacers therebetween, the radiusof curvature of the curved edge of each former being relatively greatand the edge of each former extending through less than ninety degreesof a circumference, means for rocking said formers andreciprocatingsaid' blank support in uni-- son, said means rocking saidformer. through an angle of less than ninety (19 grees, and automaticmeans for advancing said formers toward said blank by a small incrementat each reciprocation of said blank support, the ratio between theradius of the formers and the advance at each operation being so greatthat the line of pressure on said blank is practically normal to saidblank, whereby the various elements cooperate to knead and refine theopposite surfaces of the blank and to gradually work the lead betweenthe blades to form symmetrical ribs on opposite faces of the blankwithout disrupting the lead.

9. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a leadblank, and opposed formers mounted for rocking engagement with oppositefaces of said blank, each former comprising thin sectorshaped blades ofequal radius and sectorshaped spacers concentric therewith, said spacershaving equal radii, less than the radii of the blades, and means forsimultaneously rocking said formers and slowly advancing the same towardthe blank to form uniform ribs on opposite faces of said blank, wherebysaid ribs are limited and rendered uniform in height and the upper facesof said ribs being finished by said sector-shaped spacers.

10. In a machine for making Plant battery plates, a former comprisingthin sector shaped blades, the working arcs thereof subtending an angleof 90 degrees or less, and thin spacers interposed between said blades,said spacers having working edges of equal radius less than the radiusof said blades and concentric therewith.

11. A former for battery plates, comprising alternate blades and washersbound together by a plurality of bolts, one of said bolts constituting abearing axle for said former, another bolt serving for the attachment ofa driving connection.

12. In a battery plate machine, in combination, a pair of opposedoscillating formers adapted to produce a battery plate each comprisingblades having gradually tapering working edges and having radiirelatively large as compared with the length of said edges, a blankholder mounted to reciprocate between said formers,

a driving member,

means connecting said driving member with each of said formers and withsaid blank holder, whereby said formers are oscillated and said blankholder is reciprocated in unison therewith, and means for slowlyadvancing said formers toward said blank holder, the ratio between theradius of said blades and the advance at each operation being so greatthat the line of pressure on said blank is practically normal to saidblank, whereby sald gradually tapering blades are embedded in oppositesides of the blank in said blank holder to gradually displace the metalthereof in the form of uniformly dense compact ribs by pressures exertedsubstantially normal to the surfaces of said blank, whereby saiddisplaced metal is not disrupted.

13. In a battery plate machine, in combination, a housing, a pair ofopposed oscillating formers adapted to produce a battery plate mountedin said housing each former comprising blades having interposed washersand having gradually tapering working edges extending beyond saidwashers, said blades having relatively long radii as compared with thelength of said edges, a blank holder also mounted in'said housing andadapted to reciprocate between said formers, a driving member mounted insaid housing, means connecting said driving member with each of saidformers, and means detachably connecting said driving member with saidblank holder, whereby said formers are oscillated and said blank holderis reciprocated in unison therewith, and means driven by said drivingmember for slowly advancing said formers toward said blank holder,whereby said gradually tapering blades are embedded in opposite sides ofthe blank in said blank holder to gradually displace the metal thereofin the form of dense compact ribs by pressure exerted substantiallynormal to the surface of said blank, whereby the outer surface metal ofsaid blank is not disrupted.

This specification signed and witnessed this 6th day of November, A. D.,1907.

. FRANK ENGEL. Signed in the presence of THOMAS J. CANTY, W. B.GRLEELEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

